Kitchen Fire Damages VFW in Brigantine

The fire at VFW Memorial Post 696 at 121 31st St. was first reported at 3:52 p.m., Maguire said. Five firefighters responded in two engines and a rescue truck, arriving to find about 12 post members standing outside the building while heavy smoke poured out of the kitchen area in the rear.

The fire was brought under control within five minutes, Maguire said. Fire crews remained on the scene for close to two hours, using ventilation fans to remove smoke from the structure.

The fire was confined to the kitchen, Maguire said, but smoke also extensively damaged the banquet area of the building. The Atlantic County Board of Health condemned the kitchen, but after an extensive cleaning, the post was allowed to re-open the bar portion of the building later that evening.

The resident of the apartment on the second story safely evacuated the structure, Maguire said, and was later allowed to re-occupy her apartment.

 The fire was found to have originated in a deep fryer, Maguire said, quickly spreading to the rest of the kitchen.

Six additional Brigantine firefighters and members of the Atlantic City Fire Department assisted with the fire.

E-mail Steven Lemongello: SLemongello@pressofac.com

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